A group, Wild Africa’s West Africa, yesterday expressed the need to protect elephants in the country, saying only 400 elephants are currently present in Nigeria out of the 1500 elephants present 30 years ago.
The group who disclosed this in commemoration of the World Elephant Day called for better protection of elephants in Nigeria, where they face growing threats to their survival.
According to him, over the past 30 years, the population has declined from an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 elephants two decades ago to about 300 to 400 individuals today.
“On World Elephant Day, we acknowledge how sad it is that we are losing these majestic animals that once roamed freely across our savannas and forests,” said Dr Mark Ofua, Wild Africa’s West Africa representative.
“Poaching for ivory and habitat destruction have reduced their population and are pushing them to the brink of local extinction in Nigeria. But if implemented, the National Plan should stabilise their numbers,” said Dr. Ofua.
According to him, Habitat loss can lead to human-elephant conflict, which occurs when people clash with elephants due to crop raiding or property damage.
Elephants are predominantly found within or near protected areas in Nigeria, with only 10 per cent residing outside these spaces. Two species of elephants—savannas and forest— are found in Nigeria, with the largest herd – about 100 individuals – in Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. Elephants also exist across several sites in the southern region, including Cross River National Park.
Wild Africa commends Nigeria’s first-ever National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP) for 2024-2034, prepared by WCS and the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation (EPIF) on behalf of the Federal Government. If implemented, the plan will reduce the dramatic rate of decline by boosting monitoring while combating illegal ivory trade through harmonised state and federal wildlife laws and enhanced law enforcement.
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